Signal trainer



R. K. FORSYTH Oct. 26, i948.

SIGNAL TRAINER Filed- Marcn 19, 1945 l I I l 1- ....J

j@ Eau- Patented Oct. 26, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT oEEicE SIGNAL TRAINER Ralph K. Forsyth, Santa Barbara, Calif.

Application March 19, 1945,'Serial No. 583,544

2 Claims.

My invention consists of la device for use in training signal men and deck ofcers in the use of the various signal flags, pennants, .and repeaters, used in both the Navy vand wartime mer-A chant marine. For signaling, these flags consist of the international code signals: alphabet flags, numeral flags, and numeral pennants; Navy special flags, pennants, and repeaters.

To train a man in the use of these flags, pennants, and repeaters, I have developed a -device which consists primarily of a series of six sets of thirteen vertical pockets in which all of the signal ilags, pennants, and repeaters used are stowed in duplicate in the same order as -they yare stowed on the ships signal bridge. Instead of actually placing flags in these pockets, I use cards upon which have been printed the exact likeness of each flag, pennant, and repeater.

'Ihis trainer is in the form of a double-flag bag-#alphabet iiags; numeral flags, numeral pennants, Navy special pennants and repeatersstowed in duplicate in a size comparable to la standard ille folder.

In conjunction with the receptacle for receiving the cards representing flags, pennants, and repeaters, I have another series of pockets into which the cards can be inserted to make up a signal. This last mentioned Iset of six vertical pockets is -attached to the storage -device by a yield-able hinge which Ipermits .the same to be turned around away from the operator and to- Ward those instructed. By the -use of this training device, the signal hoist can be made up as if it were being placed on a signal halyard, and then by .turning the s-ame outwardly, it can be displayed to the group being instructed so that they can read the same and interpret the message placed thereon. To the opposite side of the storage device, by a similar yieldable hinge, is attached a duplicate set of six vertical pockets in which a second set of display c-ards can be placed by the instructor while the first sign-a1 is being read lby those instructed. In this manner, the instructor can constantly be 4preparing the hoist to follow while the class records the hoist displayed without delaying the instruction. Also, on the back of the main storage compartment of my signal trainer is a vertical series of six pockets, where information signals can be isplayed, leaving the hinged wings free to fly e instructional hoists. In this fixed signal space sisting of -six vertical pockets is displayed such gnal as yThis `is a drill. This method of coning flag hoist -drill is similar to that used by I `have found that with `this afore-described signal trainer, training may continue lat sea in the instruction lof deck ollicers during the tactical period in the wardroom, or for the signal gang instruction on the navigation bridge, even if the ship is under w-ay in company with other ships, and the ships regular signal yards are being used for actual operations.

In addition the same afore-described signal trainer may be used as la 'substitute for the omcer in ltactical command from -a vantage point someplace forward of the bridge to originate tactical sign-als, `which the :ships signal force on the signal bridge reads through binoculars, hoists on the ships signal yards, and reports the signal flying by sound, power, telephone or voice tube t-o the oicer of the deck on the navigation bridge, who executes the signal. All stations receive valuable training, even to the point of ship handling and tactics for deck officers, though the ship may be travelling alone.

Other objects and advantages of my invention are set forth in the following description of the preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation Iof my signal trainer.

Fig. 2 is `an elevation with the device folded.

Fig. 3 is a plan view.

A signal trainer constructed in accord-ance with my invention comprises a plurality of large panels l made of heavy cardboard or other suitable material, connected together by a hinge 2 of any type, such as la cloth tape. I have found it desirable `to have two lpanels l connected by the hinge 2, as this ypermits `the entire device to be folded into a small package, and it also protects the flag cards which will be hereinafter described.

On the panels I are positioned `a plurality of pockets 3 arranged in vertical rows. These pockets used to receive the cards are comprised of paper or cloth `straps fastened on three rsides, with the top open. In the pockets 3 are positioned the cards 4, on which are printed the various colored flags, pennants, and repeaters representing the letters and numerals of the international code, and .the various Navy special flags and pennants. The flags, pennants, and repeat-ers are printed on the card-s 4 in color. The international alphabet ags are positioned in the rst Iand second columns 5 and 6 of the left-hand panel I, `and they are arranged in alphabetical order in two columns of 13 each. The numeral flags are positioned in column l; the Navy special flags. pennants, |and repeaters in columns 8 and '9; and

the numeral pennants in column I of the righth-and panel I.

This order represents a similar positioning of the flags, pennants, and repeaters as they are stowed in the double-flag bag aboard ship, represented by the .pockets 4 in my device. At both the left and right-hand sides of the panels I, are positioned panels II and I2 made of heavy cardboard or other material, which are hinged by ring hinges I3 or other type of hinge, to the panels I. Upon the panels I I and I2 are placed a'eolumn of six Vertical pockets I 4. These pockets are shallow, so that only the bottom ends of the signal cards 4 extend into the same, and the remainder of the card, displaying the exact likeness of each flag, pennant, and repeater, can be clearly seen.

In the operation of my signal trainer, the instructor selects from the pockets 3 the signal he Wishes to display, and positions it in the pockets I4 on the panel II. The entire device is held in avertical position by two triangularsupports (not shown)- attached to the back of the main storage compartment. Upon making up 'the signal, the same is hoisted by rotating the panel II through 180 so that it may be read only from the rear side of the panel I by the group being instructed, which is given ailimited time to interpret and record the signal. As the signal is read, the kpanel I l is rotated back so that it is not visible to the group being instructed, and at the same time the panel I2, With'the next signal prepared upon it, 'is rotated until it is now visible to the class, which, in turn, in the time allotted interprets and` records this signal. By this method ag's, pennants, and repeaters are all readily accessible bythe instructorfor hoist and are as readily restowable in preparation for the succeeding'hist. The sytem of stowage and the method o'iput'ting the ags in hoist is similar to the use of a flag bag at sea; when the flags are in hoist, displayed on panels II and I2 two-blocked, they appearas'ags in hoist'at sea,` two-blocked to th'eyard. l, f WhileI have described the preferred'embodiments of vmy invention, I am not to be limited to any of the details set forth herein, except as dened in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a signal trainer, a panel having pockets thereon for the receptionof a series of cards, a panel hinged to said rst panel and having a series of pockets in vertical alignment, said hinged panel being rotatable upon its hinge to a position adjacent the vback of said rst panel whereby a signal may be displayed by positioning signal cards in said vertically aligned pockets and by rotating into view said hinged panel into the position adjacent the back of said rst panel.

2. In a signal trainer, a panel having pockets thereon for removably receiving aseries of cards having the international and Navy signal ilags printed thereon, a panel attached by a hinge to said panel and having pockets in vertical alignment, said pockets being on the same side of said panel as those on said rst named panel, said hinged panel being rotatable upon its hinge to a position adjacent the back of said first panel whereby a signal may be displayed by positioning said signal cards in said vertically aligned pockets and `by rotating into view said hinged panel into the positionadjacent the back of said rst panel.

RALPH K. FORSYTH;

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNTTED STATES PATENTS Number- Name Date 629,573 Lev Gross July 25, 1899 757,389 Bredemeier Apr. 12, 1904 1,127,051 McCormick Feb. 2, 1915 1,280,930 Wolfe Oct. 8, 1918 1,492,932 Orrell May 6, 1924 1,495,953 Deck May 27, 1924 1,506,156 Bjorklund-Asperen Aug. 26, 1924 1,627,211 Stewart May 3,' 1927 1,826,469 Hunt Oct. 6, 1931 2,336,927 Cross Dec. 14, 1943y 2,376,278 Scheld May 15, 1945 

